Canoeists Stranded in Lake Eyre

[skuthorp]

Report this morning of two canoeists stranded 20 km from the nearest solid land when Lake Eyre suddenly dropped in level. Being observed by air, and well equipped they say. Still, not a place I'd like to be caught. Very hot and very exposed on a plain of salt slush and mud.
I recalled reading of an incident off the Maine coast when 2 kayakers, caught on a falling tide, had a foot of snow before the tide came in again.
Same, only different, eh?
:(

[Ian McColgin]

At least in salt water one might have checked the tide . . .

Good luck to them.

[NormMessinger]

Did the water recede because of a wind shift or what?

[skuthorp]

Lake Eyre is mostly dry. Water about once a decade or so. My guess is that flood water has stopped coming in at the top end. Latest is they dont want to be rescued and have made makeshift skis to walk 50k to the end of the lake in temps up to 50c. Rather them than me!! :cool:

[Wild Wassa]

Adventure tourists? They don't sound like very bright boys these guys. I hope the SES sends them the search and rescue bill.

We have a shallow lake near Canberra, that only fills once every 10 years, Lake George. It kills between 3-7 people every time it fills. People have to get in quickly to die on Lake George. Windsurfers get caught on barbed wire fences and capsized fishermen get eaten by crabs or drown in the mud on Lake George. People forget that there are barbed wire fences only a few inches under the water when this lake fills, the winds can be extreme and come from nowhere.

On Lake George one could set a speed record in a dinghy the winds are so strong and consistent. If the fences don't trap you, or the Lake kill you first.

Warren.

[ 04-12-2004, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[skuthorp]

Warren, it seems these 2 have canoed the Amazon and Skiied the Antarctic before and may have taken XC skis with them. Covered 18k yesterday. Locals say the mud will be waist-deep before they get off the lake. Reference on 'AGE' site possibly.
:rolleyes:

[Wild Wassa]

The boys are in serious difficulties now, they have called for help. A TV chopper is right above them. They sure are making a mess in the mud.

They may have done a few adventure trips skuthorp, but they are still dills. The two were warned not to attempt the crossing by locals. They were warned about the falling water level and mud a metre deep. The locals told them that their support crew, had Buckley's as well, in being able to pick them up, on the other side of the lake. But they still went.

In one day they used 70% of their water. So they now need help because they fear that they will run out of water. They still have 50 k's to go. They went through 27lts of water in a day. They must have used the water to wash the mud off and been expecting rain, :D .

Are they Aussies? You take odds when you take the Continent on. Lake Eyre is one of the World's biggest dry lakes, if not the World's biggest.

Warren.

[ 04-13-2004, 04:02 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Dave R]

Found this today on ABC News Online.

"Lake Eyre canoeists face fines
Two canoeists who became stuck on Lake Eyre may be fined.

They were stranded in a mud flat on Sunday night but have since managed to free themselves and have declined an offer of rescue.

The Environment Department says the men could be fined up to $1,000 for not having an entry permit to the area.

Mungeranni Hotel manager John Hammond says the adventurers do not realise the trouble they have created for the local community.

"Really if you're doing adventuring you should have a proper support crew and a plan B and not have to rely on local people," he said.

"These people all run three to four million acre properties and they don't have time to go and spend time doing this sort of thing."

[Chris.]

All of the above, plus the really amusing bit is that these guys just happened to be carrying a couple of pairs of snow skis with them (just what every desert travller is wearing this year) and are now towing their supplies in a box across the mud. they have yet to encounter the chest-deep mud mentioned in an earlier post.....
I really don't understand the motivation of this pair.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Chris.:
All of the above, plus the really amusing bit is that these guys just happened to be carrying a couple of pairs of snow skis with them (just what every desert travller is wearing this year) and are now towing their supplies in a box across the mud. they have yet to encounter the chest-deep mud mentioned in an earlier post.....
I really don't understand the motivation of this pair.In their defence…

they sound like they are at least trying to extricate themselves rather than expecting a convenient rescue at the drop of an EPIRB/cell phone/etc.

[ 04-14-2004, 01:20 AM: Message edited by: Nicholas Carey ]

[Wild Wassa]

Originally posted by Chris.:
"I really don't understand the motivation of this pair."

Neither do I, ... but I heard their accents. They could be looking for more caves. They have a few caves on the Nullabor.

Warren.

[ 04-14-2004, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Mrleft8]

Shane has a lake named for him? He must be more popular in OZ than he lets on! :D

[skuthorp]

Yeah Myrleft8, it's mostly hot, dry, and salty and you can't get e cold beer for hundreds of miles!
:D :D